DEAR JOAN: For three or four years we have had a small bird house hanging outside our window, and it remained vacant for all those years until now. This year, a pair of finches moved in and are about to depart after hatching, feeding and raising two or three "finchlets." When they vacate the cottage, will another couple consider moving in this year or next?
I am not sure in what condition they will leave the place, what with all the egg shells, string, grass or whatever furnishings were moved in during their occupancy. They were pleasant tenants but were constantly coming and going at all hours. We will most likely retain the cleaning deposit.
Look forward to learning anything about the chances of continuing with another family. It was a treat that we would like to relive again.
DEAR RON: House finches are cavity nesters, but they have a loose definition of cavity. They will build nests in bird houses if the mood strikes them, but they are just as likely to build in a hanging planter, the crook of a tree or under an eave. This year, it seems, they just couldn't resist your lovely rental.
The bird house could attract a new tenant, or your current renters may renew the lease and raise a second brood. If they like the accommodations, chances are they'll be back next year.
Finches tend to be on the messy side, so they may leave the house unfit for another young couple. You should resist the urge to clean until this fall, however, when there's no chance of disturbing the tenants.
Be sure to provide food and water for the finches to increase your chances of keeping the house rented.
DEAR JOAN: As I send this question regarding scrub jays in our area, the answer seems almost too obvious, but I'm asking to see if there might be something else that's caused their complete disappearance this year.
We've lived in the Inverness Park area for 18 years and have seen generations of these beautiful blue birds feeding and nesting.
An increasing number of crows have come in. Are they simply taking over the territory? The many other birds here are unaffected.
DEAR GARY: Although it might appear that the crows have pushed out the jays, that's not likely.
Jays actually can be more aggressive than crows, but because they are in the same family -- Corvidae -- it would be more likely that the jays and crows would get along and drive away the other birds.
Because there is no shortage of jays in other places, we can only surmise that the birds that once inhabited your neighborhood have found greener pastures and have moved on. I'd also be willing to bet there may be jays around that you just aren't seeing.
West Nile virus
If you come across a dead bird -- especially a crow or jay -- be sure to report it to the California Department of Public Health's dead bird hotline, 1-877-WNV-BIRD or online at www.westnile.ca.gov.
The information helps officials know where to concentrate their mosquito control efforts in an attempt to prevent West Nile virus from getting established.
If a mosquito bites an infected bird, it can then transmit the virus to humans.